Tame Impala - Lonerism

Lonerism is the second studio album by Australian psychedelic rock band Tame Impala, originally released in October 2012 via Modular Recording and Fiction Records.

The origins of Tame Impala can be found in the Perth music scene. Kevin Parker played in a number of bands, one being the Dee Dee Dums, a rock duo that consisted of Parker (guitar) and Luke Epstein (drums). Tame Impala emerged in 2007 as Parker's home-recording project, and he posted a number of tracks on Myspace. This brought interest from a number of labels and eventually, he signed with Modular Recordings. To transfer these recordings to a live-stage, Parker enlisted the help of Dominic Simper (bass) and Jay Watson (drums) and began playing at some local gigs.

Like the Perth band's debut studio album, Innerspeaker, Lonerism was written, recorded, performed, and produced by Kevin Parker, with live member Jay Watson contributing on two tracks. Recorded mostly in Perth, but also in Paris, France, Lonerism builds on the psychedelic sound of its predecessor by featuring fewer guitars and more synthesisers and samples.  

After the release of their widely successful Innerspeaker, the band had already begun working on a follow-up. In an interview with Triple J talking about their debut album's recent nomination for the J Award, Parker stated that they have secretly been recording a new album. "Jay and I have been recording pretty compulsively and album number two is nearing potential completion already and I'm so excited about it that I'm having trouble keeping myself from telling you all about it". This came as a big surprise as this was said only months after the release of Innerspeaker.

Parker revealed that the album title and general themes of isolation and introspection were selected when "We were touring so much and doing all these gigs and going to places with people. It reminded me of when I was a kid trying to be social and trying to be a people person and realising that I'm not. The last years of touring and me being a people person is just something that's not in my blood."

Lonerism received critical acclaim upon release, and many critics ranked it among the best albums of 2012. It reached #4 on the charts in Australia, #14 in the United Kingdom, and #34 in the United States. It has sold over 210,000 copies in the United States, and is certified platinum in Australia and silver in the UK. At the 2013 ARIA Awards, Lonerism won Best Rock Album and Album of the Year, while at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards, it was nominated for Best Alternative Music Album. 

This double album 2LP record set is a reissue on black vinyl housed in a gatefold sleeve, pressed in Europe.